Thinking Outside the {Bento} Box

Francesca

Emily from little momma & co. is back again today! This time she is turning our attention to the plight of the brown bag lunch. By taking a cue from Bento boxes, it doesn’t have to be a squished PB&J anymore!

photo by luckysundae on flickr

While searching for new ideas for my children’s lunch box last year, I ran across a bunch of very detailed pictures showcasing lunch as an elaborate, edible art form– not only the way to fill the time (and your belly) between morning and afternoon.

BENTO!

photo by luckysundae on flickr

Truthfully, I’ve spent hours looking and day dreaming over such artistry! If given the opportunity, I think I would feel slightly guilty eating something that had such a cute face. But, I’ve tried to take inspiration from books and photos and implement them into my daily lunch-box-packing routine.

Bento "spa" by sakurako kitsa on flikr

I know what your are thinking! How can someone find the time to do this? I mean, I couldn’t get all the laundry folded today, the vacuuming awaits, and there is dishes in the sink– who’s to say that I have time to roll rice into a ball face and cut ears out of cucumbers. Who has the time to make a whole vegetable scene inspired by Rogers and Hammerstein’s, The King and I? I certainly do not. But, I can I can grab a bit of inspiration here, a dollop of creativity there– and at least throw them in my back pocket for a rainy day.

By just studying photos and books about Bento, we can pick a few elements and apply them to the typical brown bag.

1. The Box:

Bento uses a box as it’s foundation. Not only is this more eco friendly than throwing away a paper bag daily, (and multiple plastic baggies) it’s sturdy– and would survive the bottom of a backpack quite well. (Unlike my son’s poor squished sandwiches!)

Don’t be afraid and think outside the {Bento} box!

About Francesca

One of two behind The SITS Girls and Bloggy Boot Camp. Believer that this community is a movement, and not just a website. Currently on a quest for unending free WiFi & stronger caffeine. I'd love to get to know you better: Find me on Twitter @FranBanducci and on Google+.

One of two behind The SITS Girls and Bloggy Boot Camp. Believer that this community is a movement, and not just a website. Currently on a quest for unending free WiFi & stronger caffeine. I'd love to get to know you better: Find me on Twitter @FranBanducci and on Google+.

Those are really cool. Too bad Bento falls under the category of “fiddly things” for me and I don’t have the patience (or the dexterity) for fiddly things. I usually throw whatever I can grab into a container, slap on a lid and call it lunch.

These are fantastic pictures and great ideas. I was just thinking the other day about how my grandma used to make me a salad that looked like a face when I was little. I ate every bite. It had carrots for hair and olives or raisins for eyes. I’ve been trying to remember the other elements so I could make fun to eat healthy stuff for my grandchildren.

Stephanie, you are so welcome! I am busy enough to know that I don’t have a whole 5 free hours to dedicate to Bento, but by taking a few of the elements, a lot can be done! Let me know what you come up with!

I LOVE bento box lunches! I need some inspiration- my lunches are tending to be the same thing lately….very uninspiring. I can’t imagine spending the hours it takes to make the cute bento box lunches in the photos but maybe I can take some elements of them to use in my lunches. (I like drawing cute faces on my daughter’s sandwiches with edible ink)